The 2nd Mekong Delta Startup Forum: Promoting Green Economy Orientation

DNHN - On the afternoon of September 25, the People's Committee of Dong Thap province held a press conference to provide information to the media about organizing the 2nd Mekong Delta Startup Forum.

On the afternoon of September 25, the People's Committee of Dong Thap province held a press conference to provide information to the media about organizing the 2nd Mekong Delta Startup Forum, with the theme "Green Economy - A New Driving Force for Development.” The Mekong Delta provinces are committed to promoting the goals of "Modern, Circular, Low-Emission Agriculture" and reducing total methane emissions by 30% by 2030 compared to 2020 levels in cultivation and livestock activities.

The localities have also shared important insights on sustainable development, mitigating climate change impacts, creating new momentum for economic growth, and enhancing the Mekong Delta region’s position in the national and global economy. Concurrently, they aim to promote initiatives and solutions to turn the goals of a green economy and innovation into reality.

Following this commitment, the 2nd Mekong Delta Startup Forum - 2024 will be held under the direct guidance of the People's Committee of Dong Thap province, with the theme "Green Economy - A New Driving Force for Development." Mr. Tran Tri Quang, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Dong Thap province, shared: "Currently, the common challenges of the Mekong Delta region remain significant. The awareness and action capacity of both the public and private sectors need to be continuously improved to grasp new economic trends and overcome difficulties to optimize opportunities. Innovation, cooperation, and public-private linkage are seen as the ‘key’ to these issues.”

The forum continues to be advised on content by the Research and Development Board for Private Economy (Board IV under the Advisory Council on Administrative Reform of the Prime Minister) to ensure the pragmatism and practicality of the Forum. The primary goal of the forum is to rally, gather, and spur the action enthusiasm of both the public and private sectors, especially enterprises and startups with innovation elements, to materialize the Government's policy on the Mekong Delta Plan for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050. This emphasizes the goal of establishing Dong Thap as the "Center for Green Transformation Solutions of the Mekong Delta" in the new context. At the same time, the forum aims to develop into an effective public-private cooperation and dialogue program associated with innovation to support and develop businesses and promote the green economic orientation of the Mekong Delta region.

Through the activities of the forum, it seeks to connect resources and markets to support the development of startup products and projects, technology services of Dong Thap province and the Mekong Delta, honor individuals, collectives, and units typical in startup and innovation activities, and form a sustainable innovation startup ecosystem based on science-technology and digital transformation. With an expanded, innovative scale, this event will include a series of practical activities leading up to the forum from September to November 2024.

These activities include training sessions to raise awareness and promote actions adapting to green transition trends and emission reductions. The activities include training courses for leaders, public servants, officials, and enterprises to provide knowledge, raise awareness, and promote actions. This aims to grasp the trends in domestic and international green economic development, identify opportunities, challenges, and solutions to promote new directions for the region and localities.

Furthermore, the People's Committee of Dong Thap province, in coordination with the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, organizes the “Mekong Innovation Challenges 2024” (MIC 2024) competition to attract the business and startup community domestically and internationally, research institutes, schools, and research centers to participate in solving the challenges of the Mekong Delta region. The competition seeks initiatives in the fields of the digital economy, green transition, sustainable development, green agriculture, green industry, green tourism, and emissions reductions appropriate to the conditions of the Mekong Delta region; focusing on increasing the content of science-technology, innovation; connecting with investment funds to enhance investment capital support for projects in the “Pitching Day” investment call conference.

The plenary session of the 2nd Mekong Delta Startup Forum - 2024 will take place from November 29 to November 30, 2024. The plenary session will be held at the Dong Thap Provincial Labor Culture House (No. 181, Ngo Thoi Nham Street, Ward 1, Cao Lanh City, Dong Thap Province), expected to attract over 350 delegates, including Government leaders, central ministries and agencies, local leaders, international organizations, experts, domestic and international businesses, representatives of industry associations, cooperatives, small and medium enterprises, and startups.

Particularly, at the plenary session, the People's Committee of Dong Thap province will invite Government leaders to chair, focusing on key regional industry issues, discussing the context, challenges, and opportunities for the Mekong Delta agriculture sector, opportunities for startups towards modernization, sustainability, and low emissions…

The organizers stated that within the framework of the Forum, there would also be programs such as exhibitions and displays of startup innovative products, scientific-technological applications, digital transformation, emission reduction models, green technology products, and specific fields of the Mekong Delta. These events will introduce, showcase, and demonstrate models, products, and technologies for emissions reduction, green transformation, digital technology, and more. The final of the “Mekong Innovation Challenges 2024” competition will also be held.

Sessions will be held to connect large enterprises, investment funds, and experts with businesses, startup projects, and small and medium enterprises. The public-private dialogue session aims to help Dong Thap and the Mekong Delta region promote innovation, pioneer emissions reductions, and orient towards a green-circular economy, digital economy, high technology, and sustainability.

Phuoc Lap - Thuy Quyen